Learn → Plan → Launch
Launch checklist
After your plan is drafted, practice every lesson out loud, estimate lean launch cost, pick a hosting path, and plan a pilot cohort before you buy cameras, hire editors, or sign up for expensive platforms.
New to launching a course? Start here
Most first-time creators jump straight to filming or buying software. That usually wastes money. This workspace walks you through four steps in order — each one builds on the last.
Practice out loud
Read scripts, walk through demos, and test with one volunteer before you record anything. This catches awkward wording and confusing lessons early.
Estimate your budget
See a realistic cost range for a small first version (often $5,000–$15,000 CAD) — hosting, video, and help building lessons — so there are no surprises.
Pick a launch path
Answer three simple questions to learn whether you need enterprise software (SCORM) or can start on an affordable course platform like Teachable or Thinkific.
Plan a pilot group
Invite a small test cohort (often 5–10 people) to take your first modules before you open enrollment to everyone.
Quick glossary — terms you might not know
- Storyboard
- A beat-by-beat plan for each lesson — what appears on screen, what you say, and what the learner does. You build these in the Course Planner.
- Script
- The exact words you (or a narrator) will say on camera. Practice reading it aloud before recording.
- Pilot cohort
- A small test group who take your course first. They help you find problems before a public launch.
- SCORM
- A file format that lets course modules report completion scores into a company's internal training system (an LMS). Most independent creators can skip this for version 1.
- LMS
- Learning Management System — software companies use to assign and track employee training (e.g. Cornerstone, SAP). Different from Teachable or Thinkific, which are course storefronts.
- Capstone / practicum
- The final demonstration where a learner proves they can apply what they learned — often a live teaching session graded with your rubric.
- Rubric
- Your scoring guide for certification — what "passing" looks like, level by level. You define this in the Course Planner.
Work through the tabs below in order. Your progress saves automatically on this device.
Practice every module before you record
Each module from your Course Planner appears below. Work through four practice rounds in order — check them off as you go. This is the step most creators skip, and it is the main reason reshoots and confused learners happen later.
No modules yet — start in the planner first. Open planner Load a sample Then return here to track practice rounds.
Certification dry run (once per course)
After every module passes all four rounds, run through your full certification path once with a volunteer. This confirms your pass/fail criteria, grading rubric, and remediation steps actually work — before real learners enroll.
What each practice round means
Complete these in order for every module. Each round takes 30–90 minutes depending on length.
- R1 — Table read
- Sit with your subject-matter expert (or co-instructor) and read the script aloud together. Fix timing, awkward phrases, and language that sounds bossy instead of inviting. No camera needed.
- R2 — Dry demo
- Walk through every demonstration, slide transition, and prop change as if you were recording — but without pressing record. Confirm you have everything you need on set.
- R3 — Pilot learner
- One volunteer (matched to your target learner persona) completes the module on their own. Note anything that confused them in the log below each module. Dry-run your rubric on their work.
- R4 — Gold script
- Lock the final approved script and storyboard. No more edits after this — you are ready to record.
Estimate your first-launch budget
Move the sliders and dropdowns to match your situation. The estimate on the right shows a realistic range for a small first version — typically $5,000–$15,000 CAD — not the full final catalog. Most teams launch with 2–3 modules first, then scale up after the pilot proves the course works.
Which hosting path fits you?
Not sure what SCORM or an LMS is? That is normal. Answer the three questions below — each one includes a plain-language explanation — and we will recommend the simplest path for your situation. Most independent certification programs can skip enterprise software entirely.
Lean platform path (recommended)
Host on Teachable or Thinkific, grade practicums with your rubric, and skip SCORM for your first launch. This is the fastest and most affordable path for most creators.
Your next steps:
Plan your pilot test group
A pilot cohort is a small group of real learners (often 5–10 people) who take your first modules before you open public enrollment. They help you catch problems, calibrate your grading, and gather testimonials — without risking your reputation on a full launch.